Joint Investigative Mechanism Panel Visits Syria
NEW YORK, 21 December 2015 (Joint Investigative Mechanism) — The three-member leadership panel of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, led by its Head, Virginia Gamba, was in Damascus on 17 December for meetings with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. The visit came after the signing of the status of mission agreement in New York on 11 December. Ms. Gamba was accompanied by her deputies, Eberhard Schanze and Adrian Neritani, and the Chief of Staff of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Ioan Tudor.
During the visit, the panel met with Faisal Mekdad, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and other representatives of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. They discussed the implementation of Security Council resolution 2235 (2015) and the status of mission agreement. The Joint Investigative Mechanism leadership panel is looking forward to the Government’s cooperation, pursuant to the resolution, which established the Joint Investigative Mechanism on 7 August.
Vice Minister Mekdad confirmed the readiness of the Syrian Government to cooperate with the Joint Investigative Mechanism.
The mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism is to identify to the greatest extent feasible individuals, entities, groups or Governments who were perpetrators, organizers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab Republic in accordance with resolution 2235 (2015).
The mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism is for one year. Its extension will be decided by the Security Council based on the status of the findings of the Joint Investigative Mechanism at the time of the expiration of the current mandate. Pursuant to resolution 2235 (2015), the first report of the Joint Investigative Mechanism will be submitted 90 days following its announcement of commencement of full operations. The Secretary-General announced the Joint Investigative Mechanism fully operational on 13 November, and its first report is expected in mid-February 2016.